(Atlanta, Ga. – April 28, 2017)
Chattahoochee Technical College representatives and the college’s nominees for Manufacturers of the Year attended the 23rd Annual Governor’s Award Luncheon, held at the Georgia International Convention Center, on Thursday, April 27.
Gov. Nathan Deal spoke to the crowd, focusing on how partnerships across the state, including the bonds among manufacturing and educational entities have created greater opportunities for Georgians. In addition, he recognized the award nominees, which were nominated in the small, medium and large manufacturer categories. To be nominated, the companies must exhibit a high-degree of corporate responsibility, have an economic impact on Georgia and display workforce excellence.
“Today, we are here to acknowledge and honor those who have excelled, and all of you who are here are winners, quite honestly,” Deal said. “You are an important part of the fabric of manufacturing in the state of Georgia, and that keeps us all working in the right direction. We are not where we want to be on many levels, but we are trying our best to get there. We are trying to improve the quality of K-12 education, we are going to try to increase the number of students who graduate from high school and then go on to education beyond high school in either our Technical College System [of Georgia], or our college and university system.”
The annual Manufacturers of the Year event was developed by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to recognize the contribution of manufacturing to the state’s economy. This year’s winners were Grenzebach of Coweta County in the small manufacturer category, Great Dane of Statesboro in the medium manufacturer category and King’s Hawaiian of Hall County in the large manufacturer category.
This year’s nominees, selected by CTC’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education, include Pilgrim’s Pride in Ellijay and Universal Alloy Corporation in Cherokee County, who were nominated for Large Manufacturer of the Year. Voestalpine Automotive Components Cartersville Inc. was nominated for Small Manufacturer of the Year.
Pilgrim’s Pride, a branch of the national corporation and the largest employer in Gilmer County, employs more than 1,000 Georgians while providing services nationwide. The plant prides itself on employee safety practices and ways for it to become involved with, and benefit, the community it serves.
According to a statement provided on behalf of Pilgrim’s Pride, “Since we are the largest employer in Gilmer and many surrounding counties, we know that we can have a positive effect on our community. We continually look for ways that we can be involved; ways that we can assist; ways that we can make a difference. Just being nominated for Large Manufacturer of the Year by Chattahoochee Tech validates that others outside of our work family recognize the efforts and care that Pilgrim’s in Ellijay places on safety, our work family and our community.”
Universal Alloy Corporation, a global leader in the manufacture of aerospace products, builds high-strength hard alloy aluminum extrusion aircraft structures. The company prides itself in its flexibility of services, and ability to benefit the communities in which it serves. A spokesperson called the nomination “an honor.”
According to a statement provided on behalf of the company, “Universal Alloy Corporation is proud to be located in Cherokee County where local government and educational institutions have enthusiastically supported us in our growth. Chattahoochee Technical College plays a key role in preparing the local workforce, allowing us to employ the skill sets required to operate our facilities. The Cherokee Economic Office of Development has also been a tremendous advocate to the growth UAC has experienced.”
Voestalpine Automotive Components Cartersville Inc. manufactures ultra-high strength body-in-white components for premium car manufacturers. Operating since 2014, the Cartersville plant is a tier-1 supplier of the highest-strength steel parts in the automotive industry. The is heavily involved in community engagement, such as supporting the training of young people and offering apprenticeships to the students of the Bartow County College & Career Academy.
According to a statement provided on behalf of the company, “From the beginning we have strongly cooperated with the education system in Georgia, be it the college and career academies for our apprenticeship program or the technical college system for the advanced skills training of our workforce. Being nominated for the Manufacturer of the Year already came certainly as a surprise to us, but we would like to see it as an acknowledgment of our approach. It is definitely an honor to be named amongst so many successful companies here in Georgia.”